Alnwick/Haldimand Township in bind for new Integrity Commissioner after suddenly ending current contract

Alnwick Haldimand Township Municipal Building. By Dan Jones.

By: Dan Jones, Northumberland 89.7 FM News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Alnwick/Haldimand Township Council are scrambling to find a new Integrity Commissioner, after abruptly ending the current contract to Principles Integrity effective mid-June.

Council this morning, debated a bylaw to hire an interim third party to act as the Integrity Commission until next February. The bylaw faced immediate pushback as Mayor John Logel struggled to get the bylaw into debate, as there was reluctance from Councillors Greg Booth and Mary Catherine O’Neil to second the debate brought forward by Deputy Mayor Joan Stover. Councillor Mike Ainsworth was absent from the meeting. Logel would second the bylaw debate.

Two weeks ago, Council received a complaint report from Principles Integrity, which put the wheels in motion to find a new Integrity Commissioner. In May of 2025, a complaint was lodged that the Township did not properly disclose resignation letters from members on voluntary boards and committees. Those letters were put in closed session, preventing the release publicly. Logel said today that the move to closed session was the recommendation of Clerk Emily Cartlidge as the letters contain personal information.

However, the Integrity Commissioner report concluded that resignation letters can have personal information redacted, and then released to the public. 

“We have completed our investigation into the Complaint. Based upon our assessment of the evidence, the Resignation Letters did not meet the requirement of an exception to the open meeting rules of the Municipal Act, 2001 or of the Township’s Procedure By-law. It is our recommendation that the Resignation Letters should be redacted for personal information and then added to an upcoming regular Council Meeting Agenda,” said the report.

On May 19, one week later, Cartlidge prepared a report presented to the Committee of the Whole to move away from Principles Integrity.

“That Committee of the Whole recommends to Council at the May 26, 2026 Municipal Planning / Regular Council Meeting that the Ontario Ombudsman be recognized as the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand's Closed Meeting Investigator; That a by-law be brought forward to the May 26, 2026 Municipal Planning / Regular Council Meeting for Council consideration to appoint ADR Chambers as the Township's Interim Integrity Commissioner,” Cartridge’s report explained.

However, following debate at Council today, the bylaw was defeated. In a record vote, Booth and O’Neil voted against with Logel and Stover in favour. Ainsworth was absent.

One resignation letter came from Jim McCormack of the Parks and Recreation Committee on April 29, 2025, and obtained by Northumberland 89.7 FM News.

“It is with regret that I submit my formal resignation from the Parks and Recreation Committee effective immediately. I have made this difficult decision as a result of the recent changes to the Terms of Reference approved by Council which I do not support. In particular, the inclusion of the Nawautin Nature Sanctuary under this portfolio as I am of the opinion that it should remain as a stand alone Committee to focus specifically on the future of the sanctuary. In addition I do not support the shift of focus from an Advisory Committee to more of a working committee. It is unfortunate that this path has been chosen and at a time where council is well past the midway point of its term. It is also unfortunate that the former committee did not have the opportunity to discuss the eventual recommendations brought forward as the Committee had not been given the opportunity to meet since this past October.”

Following the Council Meeting today, Logel said it is still the belief of Cartlidge not to release the redacted resignation letters “Our Clerk is experienced and she knows what she is doing, and she recommended that it not be publicly released,” stated Logel.

He explained there is frustration with Principles Integrity on the length of investigations, and that the resignation report played into part of the attempt to obtain a new investigator. He adds Council is not looking for a more favourable Integrity Commissioner, but could not say what would happen if Council did not have an interim in place by June 16.

Logel confirmed that approximately 11-15 volunteers have resigned from committees and boards this term. Asked for his opinion on the level of resignations, Logel responded that those people “don’t like the rules.”

Logel concluded that he appreciates volunteers' contributions and encourages them to remain involved.

The full interview with Mayor John Logel will air Thursday on Northumberland at 5.